Ελληνικά
Last Updated on 09:18 AM by Giorgos Tsekas
Genres: Crossover / Hardcore / Old-School Hardcore Punk / Groove
Countries: Greece / Brazil
Labels: Angry Owl Records / Nervous B.D. Style Produxxxions / RottingHam DIY Net label
Year: 2017
As I had previously mentioned in one of my live reports, my relationship with Psycorepaths was mostly superficial. Simply and plainly. Keeping in mind the band’s great live performance at Eightball Club a few months ago, I decided to take a closer look and dig into the band’s history and releases to far, just to know what I’m dealing with. Thankfully, the band itself provided me with their latest record, the split album with Brazilians Undergust, which was released in April 2017,so everything went as planned. Now that I became more familiar with the band’s material, I think I should say a few words about “Annoying Truths for Humanity” (the split release I mentioned earlier), because it’s an actually impressive effort, a good start for someone to familiarize himself with the band and last but not least, Undergust are an interesting case emerging from Brazil’s São Paulo.
Let’s take things from the very beginning… Psycorepaths walk among us since 2004 and already have a lot of independent releases, with the most important being their debut album “Your Entropia Has Finally Arrived”, which was released via Angry Owl Records in 2013, opening a few more doors for the band and some new slots in live show billings. As far as the release at hand is concerned, Psycorepaths offer four tracks, like Undergust, in which one can easily distinguish the Heavy Hardcore character on which the band has structured its course, empowering its sound with that 90s-00s ‘smell’, while the old school mix of tracks give a ‘monolithic’ essence that satisfies those of us who are a bit (more than they havwe should) stuck with the vintage sounds. We can listen to enough breakdowns, while speed variations are common. The good thing with Psycorepaths’ music is that all instruments are mutually supportive while simultaneously have enough room to breathe for themselves. They are inextricably linked together though. Psycorepaths touch basically personal issues for the most part, lyrically speaking, while the problems and difficulties of everyday life are not missing from the lyrics.
You can watch the clip Psycorepaths released for “The Real Outcast”, a track which is included in the split release and elaborates on the issues of minorities and the marginalized people, here:
As far as the remaining half of the release is concerned, it is taken over by Undergust, who even though they are fresh fish in the sea, since they were formally formed in 2015, however their co-operations, guest appearances and releases are more than many. For example, in 2015 and 2016 the band released two EPs, a live recording and “Irrational Behavior” respectively, while their split releases are already 7 (!). Undergust is essentially a more modern Hardcore verse of Biohazard and Cro-Mags, while the band itself has stated that one of their main influences is Napalm Death. Musically speaking, what Undergust offer is fast, addictive and straightforward music, proving that simplicity in compositions elevate your spirits and urge you to have fun, instead of keeping you puzzled about what the guitarists for example play with their instrument. And that’s what it’s all about in this kind of music. In relation to Psycorepaths, Undergust have a clearly different volume and depth, so despite the fact they have momentum, their dynamics are different. They will surely engage open-minded fans of Ratos de Porão, Sepultura and the early Agnostic Front. Lyrically speaking, they move on to a more general view of things; however their comments are particularly biting. All of the lyrics are written in English except for “Manipulação”, which is written in Portuguese.
With a more general look, both acts are walking into old-school, somewhat retro paths, but both of them have identity, a strong personal element, especially Psycorepaths, who have been around for 15 years. They are both characterized by a past-loving attitude, but given through a modern, contemporary prism.
The album was released digitally via YouTube by Nervous TV and the official bandcamp of each band. In physical form, “Annoying Truths For Humanity” was released by Angry Owl Records, Nervous B.D. Style Produxxxions and Rotting Ham DIY Net in 100 copies.
Listen to the entire “Annoying Truths For Humanity” split here:
